Topic: Turned down for a job bcos of his African name Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 10:38am

Shame on you Virgin Atlantic.

Weall know it happens but something needs to be done about it. We don't all desire to have Anglo-Saxon names. I sure don't. I love my African name.

Virgin Atlantic accused of rejecting graduate job applicant because of his African name after they offered him an interview when he applied as 'Craig Owen'

Max Kpakio was turned down for job at Virgin call centre in Swansea

But received enthusiastic response when he re-applied using British name

Fury: Max Kpakio claims he was turned down for a job with Virgin Atlantic because of his name

Virgin Atlantic was today accused of racism after allegedly rejecting a job application from an African refugee, but accepting him when he applied with a British name.

Max Kpakio was turned down for a call centre job - and when he suspected his foreign-sounding name was at fault, he re-submitted his application under the name Craig Owen.

He claims the enthusiastic response the second application received proves that his initial rejection was based solely on racial discrimination, and is taking the airline to an employment tribunal.

The 36-year-old graduate was born in Liberia, but has lived in the UK for the past 10 years and is now a British citizen.

When his application to work at a Virgin call centre in Swansea was rejected, he was convinced it was due to his African name.

Not only was he invited for interview when he applied as Craig Owen, but the company repeatedly contacted him encouraging his application - even though it was nothing more than a simplified version of his genuine CV.

After he failed to respond to their initial email, they sent a string of messages saying how much they were looking forward to meeting him.

Application: Mr Kpakio hoped to get a job at the Virgin call centre based in this building in Swansea

'There was an enormous difference in the way I was treated when I used a British name,' Mr Kpakio said.

'When I was first sent a rejection, I couldn't understand it - I thought I had provided a very good CV.

'I'd offered advice to clients over the telephone before, so I believed I was a very good candidate for the job.

'It occurred to me that my ethnic origin may have something to do with the rejection. I then decided to make a further application to Virgin, using the name Craig Owen.

'They were in touch with me seven or eight times, and kept coming back to me when I didn't respond.'

Refugee: The 36-year-old left his native Liberia to escape the civil war and graduated from Swansea University

Mr Kpakio moved to Swansea with his three children in 2002, to escape the civil war which was tearing his home country apart.

He earned a degree in International Relations from Swansea University.

His case for alleged racial discrimination against Virgin, which was founded by flamboyant tycoon Richard Branson, is due to be heard by an employment tribunal in April.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic said: 'We are an equal opportunities employer.

'We pride ourselves on providing opportunities to talented people regardless of their race, sex, age or other characteristic.

'And whilst we do not comment on individual cases, we strongly deny any of our recruitment decisions or practices are discriminatory in any way.'

Research done over the past few years have suggested that job applicants with foreign-sounding names face obstacles to being hired in many lines of work.

A number of studies in which researchers have submitted identical CVs under two sets of name, British and non-British, have shown that the former are significantly more likely to receive a positive response from employers.

Smdh. I've experienced this before. I have a name like Ashley Smith. When they saw that I look like my name should be Shaneequa' Jackson-Jones, they were acting like those good grades couldn't have come from me

There was a great radio phone-in, in December with women phoning in telling their stories. Its terrible. We all Know Rachel Philips or Richard Goodson is given an interview more than Rashida Kamara or Kofi Frimpong . Its undeniable

My dad had to go by a different name when he came here in 1983 because he wasn't getting any jobs. It confused me when I was little, but now I know that certain employers are prejudice like that. I feel bad for the guy.

So what happens at this employment tribunal? Do they have the power to fine the company?

If he wins, he is looking to get paid.

Their statement was pitta. Not even 'we are so shocked and are going to look into this and retrain/sack'. Just lazy soundbite.

These companies got minorities running around like headless chickens changing their names/ naming their kids bland watered down names just to get a call for an interview. Until they see brown. What then?

We get so much shiit thrown at us, I am surprised our collective anger hasn't finished this world yet.

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